LEAP is excited to be part of a new initiative which will evaluate dolphin populations in the Kinabatangan, assess fisheries resources and look at the potential for involving local stakeholders.
The Kinabatangan River in eastern Sabah is one of the world’s richest ecosystems, recognised as a “Wetland of International Importance” under the 2008 RAMSAR designation of the Lower Kinabatangan-Segama Wetlands (LKSW). The largest RAMSAR site in Malaysia (78,803 ha), the LKSW was designated for its representative habitat and biodiversity richness.
The Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) and the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis) occur in and around the LKSW and are dependent on the productivity of the wetlands. Isolated populations are found throughout Asia and both species rely upon the integrity of the coastal habitat to survive. These small, resident populations are adversely impacted by fisheries interactions, habitat degradation and pollution. The IUCN lists riverine populations of Irrawaddy as ‘critically endangered’, coastal populations as ‘vulnerable’ and all populations of Indo-Pacific humpbacks as ‘near threatened’.
The health of both dolphin species is closely tied to the status of the local fish resources and local communities depend on fisheries as a primary source of protein and for additional income. Not only does proper knowledge and management of the fisheries benefit dolphin conservation, but it is also critical for biodiversity conservation and livelihood preservation.
The project proposes to evaluate:
1) Dolphin populations through mapping of their distribution and abundance;
2) Fisheries resources by determining the pressure on aquatic resources; and
3) The potential for incorporating the needs of local stakeholders in fisheries management and wildlife tourism including dolphin watching.
A family of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins seen near the mouth of the Kinabatangan River.
The overall aim of the project is to ensure the long-term viability of dolphin populations, the sustainability of fish resources and the development of the livelihoods of those people that live along the rivers shores. Information from this project will feed into the LKSW Management Plan thus also assisting the Sabah state conservation strategy for the entire Kinabatangan watershed.
Integral partners include Sabah Wildlife Department, Sabah Forestry Department and the Department of Fisheries Sabah, as well as the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), who have facilitated transfer of expertise to Sabah government bodies, provided educational material and assisted in the designation of the RAMSAR site. Local stakeholder participation is also crucial. Abai village lies at the heart of the LKSW and will be the base of operations for this project. The community in Abai is working with LEAP and existing initiatives towards sustainable growth and habitat conservation. The project will support the efforts of Abai and LEAP to contribute to a legacy of sustainable communities of people, dolphins and fisheries in the Kinabatangan River.
The project will be led by Dr Lindsay Porter who has lived and worked in Asia since the early 1990’s, focusing her research on tropical marine mammals that are adversely impacted by man, and assisted by Ms Tun Min Poh who holds a Masters degree in fisheries management.
An adult Irrawaddy dolphin in the Kinabatangan estuary.
Funding for the first year of operations has been generously provided by Alexander Abraham Foundation and Woodtiger Fund.
LEAP 